A Cause for Optimism

"What Corrigan wanted was a fully believable God, one you could find in the grime of the everyday. The comfort he got from the hard, cold truth- the filth, the war, the poverty- was that life could be capable of small beauties. He wasn't interested in the glorious tales of the afterlife or the notions of the honey-soaked heaven. To him that was a dressing room for hell. Rather he consoled himself with the fact that, in the real world, when he looked closely into the darkness he might find the presence of a light, damaged and bruised, but a little light all the same. He wanted, quite simply, for the world to be a better place, and he was in the habit of hoping for it. Out of that came some sort of triumph that went beyond theological proof, a cause for optimism against all the evidence."  -Let the Great Wold Spin by Colum McCann 

Love Letter to the Emerald City

Dear Seattle,

This week-long trip has been a killer. Jacksonville has been great with friendly people speaking in slight southern drawls, pounds of fried goodness, surprise thunderstorms, and buckets of mango iced tea. However, Jacksonville is not you.

I know the last 6 months have been rocky to say the least. We had a wonderful summer frolicking in the sunshine with some of the cutest children. Then fall hit and I started seeing you in a different light. I even thought about leaving. Yikes! (Let's be honest. I was only thinking of going to cities that resembled your beauty and culture.)

During those rocky months, I would drive into the city or be at one of your amazing lookout points and try to remember how those views used to take my breath away. But I would feel nothing.

Something changed though. I rediscovered true joy and in the process rediscovered my joy and love for you. It looks like I'll be here for awhile. I'm ready to start soaking up rainy days snuggled on the couch with a cup of warmth and a good movie or book. I'm set for adventures tearing up this city with such wonderful friends (who I would never have met without you). I'm going to keep searching for my passions and following them right here with you.

I'm sorry for the momentary lapse of commitment. Let's try again, shall we?

peace,
K. Frank

FUNemployment

Right before Christmas I decided to take a leap of faith and jumped head first back into unemployment. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done and I think I aged about 10 years in the process. I took a small breather at home for the weekend, but have remained busy this week with a reunion with a friend from China and a 2-part interview (second part tomorrow) and unrelenting cough that seems to be sucking the life out of me.

The more I think about everything that's happened and what I've been thinking about the last few weeks, this whole thing has been more of a leap "INTO" faith than "of". Something about what I believed and loved is slowly shifting back, but I'm still trying to find the words to describe it.... welp, next blog! :)

Welcome back FUNemployment!

Inspirational Song of the Month

This song was featured in Morning Glory (seen with the glorious, Emily Y.) and it's been a great help in keeping the hopes high recently.

Driver Reads Braille

As I was driving today in Ballard, I was behind a car that had a license plate frame that said "Driver Reads Braille."

The first thought in my head was, "CAN the driver read braille or do they HAVE to read braille?" These are two very different things. I started getting nervous as we inched at 3mph along NW 56th Street and was quickly realizing that it was probably the latter.

As we came to the 4-way stop by the library, I maneuvered around the woman and saw that she had on HUGE, thick sunglasses that were obviously prescriptions. I am all for equal opportunity, but I think for driving there's a certain issue of safety involved. I also think you might have to see the road (and other drivers) for the most part...

I realize this blog might come off as highly insensitive. I'm sorry. I guess if the DMV thought she was fit to drive, then she should be fine! (Right?) Right.

Recent Thoughts

Over the last week I have found these 2 quotes popping up almost every other thought. Yes, they come from movies. (Yes, one of them is a cartoon BUT is probably one of the most heartwarming cartoon movies ever. This makes it okay.)

"Adventure is out there!" - Up

and...

"Get busy living or get busy dying." -Shawshank Redemption

A few days ago, Seattle experienced an intense snowing that basically shut down the city. I braved the roads in my little Volvo from California during some of the worst parts, a roommate and I sled down a hill on trash can lids, and for the first time in awhile I felt like life wasn't flying by. 

Today I fully realized that it is November 26th, 2010. The day after Thanksgiving. The end of November. What happened to summer and fall? What happened to all the days and weeks that literally just passed me by? I have never felt so boring in my life. While there have been some definite memories over the last 6 months, a lot of it has been utterly forgettable. 

It's time for a life change. It's time to "get busy living or get busy dying." "Adventure is out there" and I'm ready to start going for it. I'm usually full of more ambition and drive and it's time to start going for it again. What "it" is, is another question/blog entirely. However, I'm ready to start living the moments and experiences of life. Who's with me?

Highlights from the new J-O-B

One of my favorite ways to debrief things (via SPRINT core) is "high/low." Soooo let's go!

Lows (always start with low to end with a high!)

• Kids
• Angry parents
• Screaming dads
• The privilege and entitlement others feel/express
• Office dynamics- this isn't necessarily a low, but more of a weird/interesting culture I'm learning about/becoming part of
• Early Saturday mornings
• Spending 8 hours in a 32 degree hangar 

Highs

• Kids (love 'em and hate 'em)
• Amazing staff person.
• Mojo. The name of a girl in a class I shadowed. Met her sister, Pino, last week.
• Patient, understanding parents that don't blame you for things out of your control
• Basically being paid to exercise
• Being paid.